Plan to re-launch Wirral to Wales hovercraft service

PASSENGERS could soon be travelling by hovercraft between Wirral and Wales as a company plans to re-launch a service last seen in the 1960s.

Hoverlink (NW) believes the service could take 200,000 visitors to North Wales every year and will be operational in 2015.

The initiative, supported by Wirral Council's regeneration department, will run from New Brighton's lifeboat station's launch stage.

The enterprise will cost around £1m to set up and could create 100 permanent jobs.

The world’s first commercial passenger hovercraft service ran briefly from Rhyl to Moreton beach in 1962, but ended when a storm hit the hovercraft while it was moored, damaging its lifting engines.

Hoverlink's director Simon Clitheroe told the Globe: "Wirral has been identified as a major terminal hub for this service and will become an integral part of our service.

"I was born in Wirral, work in Wirral and believe the borough is the ideal location for this development.

"We are putting 2015 as a starting point as we see this as a realistic time to start.

"Once operational, we will be able to transport customers from Wirral to Blackpool or Llandudno within 30 minutes, far beating any mode of transport currently available for speed and efficiency."

Kevin Adderley, Wirral Council's strategic director for regeneration and environment, said: "We have been in discussions with Hoverlink as they develop their proposals for a hovercraft link between Wirral and North Wales.

"At the moment, these are only proposals, which the authority currently supports."

Hoverlink is encouraging potential customers to visit its social media sites for updates on the planned service.

Comments

Tremendous idea and a very good new enterprise for Wirral. Good luck Hoverlink NW, Wirral needs another success story to take away the bitter taste of the wasters of Brighton Street

Tremendous idea and a very good new enterprise for Wirral. Good luck Hoverlink NW, Wirral needs another success story to take away the bitter taste of the wasters of Brighton StreetLlamedos 1

Tremendous idea and a very good new enterprise for Wirral. Good luck Hoverlink NW, Wirral needs another success story to take away the bitter taste of the wasters of Brighton Street

Score: 5

Thepleb
3:02pm Wed 15 Jan 14

At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr Clitheroe

At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr ClitheroeThepleb

At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr Clitheroe

Score: 6

bigfoot
4:52pm Wed 15 Jan 14

Having been a passenger on the first service from Leasowe to Rhyl this is a long time coming.
Can I be assured that the vehicle is thoroughly deep cleaned after the Council trips,to remove the stench?

Having been a passenger on the first service from Leasowe to Rhyl this is a long time coming.
Can I be assured that the vehicle is thoroughly deep cleaned after the Council trips,to remove the stench?bigfoot

Having been a passenger on the first service from Leasowe to Rhyl this is a long time coming.
Can I be assured that the vehicle is thoroughly deep cleaned after the Council trips,to remove the stench?

Score: 4

robinpaine
6:02pm Thu 16 Jan 14

There is in 700 page book with 450 pictures and a foreword by the The Duke of Edingburgh, also available on Kindle, called 'On a Cushion of Air', (www.Amazon.com or www.thebookdepositor
y.com), which tells the story of the development of the hovercraft by those who were there, (including the first service from Rhyl to Wallasey with the VA 3 in 1962), from the very early days through to the heyday of the giant 165-ton SRN.4, which crossed the English Channel starting in 1968 carry 30 cars and 254 passengers at speeds in excess of 75 knots on a calm day. It was subsequently widened to carry 36 cars and 280 passengers with an A.U.W. of 200 tons and was later lengthened to an A.U.W of 325 tons and capable of carrying 55 cars and 424 passengers. The amazing point was that from 165 tons to 325 tons only 400 extra hp was required, although a bit of speed was sacrificed.
Sadly, for economic reasons, the service came to an end on 1st October 2000. In total 6 SR.4s were built and the two remaining ones are in the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent. See www.onacushionofair.
com

There is in 700 page book with 450 pictures and a foreword by the The Duke of Edingburgh, also available on Kindle, called 'On a Cushion of Air', (www.Amazon.com or www.thebookdepositor
y.com), which tells the story of the development of the hovercraft by those who were there, (including the first service from Rhyl to Wallasey with the VA 3 in 1962), from the very early days through to the heyday of the giant 165-ton SRN.4, which crossed the English Channel starting in 1968 carry 30 cars and 254 passengers at speeds in excess of 75 knots on a calm day. It was subsequently widened to carry 36 cars and 280 passengers with an A.U.W. of 200 tons and was later lengthened to an A.U.W of 325 tons and capable of carrying 55 cars and 424 passengers. The amazing point was that from 165 tons to 325 tons only 400 extra hp was required, although a bit of speed was sacrificed.
Sadly, for economic reasons, the service came to an end on 1st October 2000. In total 6 SR.4s were built and the two remaining ones are in the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent. See www.onacushionofair.
comrobinpaine

There is in 700 page book with 450 pictures and a foreword by the The Duke of Edingburgh, also available on Kindle, called 'On a Cushion of Air', (www.Amazon.com or www.thebookdepositor
y.com), which tells the story of the development of the hovercraft by those who were there, (including the first service from Rhyl to Wallasey with the VA 3 in 1962), from the very early days through to the heyday of the giant 165-ton SRN.4, which crossed the English Channel starting in 1968 carry 30 cars and 254 passengers at speeds in excess of 75 knots on a calm day. It was subsequently widened to carry 36 cars and 280 passengers with an A.U.W. of 200 tons and was later lengthened to an A.U.W of 325 tons and capable of carrying 55 cars and 424 passengers. The amazing point was that from 165 tons to 325 tons only 400 extra hp was required, although a bit of speed was sacrificed.
Sadly, for economic reasons, the service came to an end on 1st October 2000. In total 6 SR.4s were built and the two remaining ones are in the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent. See www.onacushionofair.
com

Score: 0

Joeblogg85
9:21pm Thu 16 Jan 14

Thepleb wrote…

At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr Clitheroe

Totally agree Pleb. Adderleys already jumped on board an it hasn't even taken off yet! Great initiative tho! Good luck.....

[quote][p][bold]Thepleb[/bold] wrote:
At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr Clitheroe[/p][/quote]Totally agree Pleb. Adderleys already jumped on board an it hasn't even taken off yet! Great initiative tho! Good luck.....Joeblogg85

Thepleb wrote…

At last a great idea just watch the sharks circle though from the town hall promoting themselves.Good luck to Mr Clitheroe

Totally agree Pleb. Adderleys already jumped on board an it hasn't even taken off yet! Great initiative tho! Good luck.....

Score: 0

benny07
10:18pm Thu 16 Jan 14

very good idea,but as usual with the council, there light years to late ,by the mid seventies holidays in wales & days out ,were all coming to an end never to be revied,its easier to do spain every year with lovely weather,& decent service, still you never know,the council may get there milion quid back. ,& pigs may fly !!unlike the million quid executive fire escape & lift,they have just paid out of tax payers money ,at wallasey town hall ,the police fraud squad need to have a closer look at these fantastic,over inflated contracts given out !!!aswell as all the land deals !!

very good idea,but as usual with the council, there light years to late ,by the mid seventies holidays in wales & days out ,were all coming to an end never to be revied,its easier to do spain every year with lovely weather,& decent service, still you never know,the council may get there milion quid back. ,& pigs may fly !!unlike the million quid executive fire escape & lift,they have just paid out of tax payers money ,at wallasey town hall ,the police fraud squad need to have a closer look at these fantastic,over inflated contracts given out !!!aswell as all the land deals !!benny07

very good idea,but as usual with the council, there light years to late ,by the mid seventies holidays in wales & days out ,were all coming to an end never to be revied,its easier to do spain every year with lovely weather,& decent service, still you never know,the council may get there milion quid back. ,& pigs may fly !!unlike the million quid executive fire escape & lift,they have just paid out of tax payers money ,at wallasey town hall ,the police fraud squad need to have a closer look at these fantastic,over inflated contracts given out !!!aswell as all the land deals !!

Score: -4

rover600
1:24pm Fri 17 Jan 14

I think it is fantastic news that this is being reconsidered however i'm ultra concerned at the viability of this once the novelty wears off.

According to Hoverlink themselves fares are currently proposed at £15 per Adult (one way) New Brighton to Rhyll and they are looking at family tickets, return fares etc.

A round trip by car with say two in it will cost aound £10 in fue so roughly £2.50 per person per leg each way make that a family of four and the costs per head lower further.

I appreciate not everyone has a car but this would be no cheap day out. I can understand too the novelty value of wanting to travel in a Hovercraft and I'd certainly try it once. It might have worth in connecting up with the Cruise Liners that come in and run as a day excursion to North Wales but I think most liners are in port just the one day and with respect are calling so people can visit Liverpool and its attractions.

Truly wishing the team well with this.

I think it is fantastic news that this is being reconsidered however i'm ultra concerned at the viability of this once the novelty wears off.
According to Hoverlink themselves fares are currently proposed at £15 per Adult (one way) New Brighton to Rhyll and they are looking at family tickets, return fares etc.
A round trip by car with say two in it will cost aound £10 in fue so roughly £2.50 per person per leg each way make that a family of four and the costs per head lower further.
I appreciate not everyone has a car but this would be no cheap day out. I can understand too the novelty value of wanting to travel in a Hovercraft and I'd certainly try it once. It might have worth in connecting up with the Cruise Liners that come in and run as a day excursion to North Wales but I think most liners are in port just the one day and with respect are calling so people can visit Liverpool and its attractions.
Truly wishing the team well with this.rover600

I think it is fantastic news that this is being reconsidered however i'm ultra concerned at the viability of this once the novelty wears off.

According to Hoverlink themselves fares are currently proposed at £15 per Adult (one way) New Brighton to Rhyll and they are looking at family tickets, return fares etc.

A round trip by car with say two in it will cost aound £10 in fue so roughly £2.50 per person per leg each way make that a family of four and the costs per head lower further.

I appreciate not everyone has a car but this would be no cheap day out. I can understand too the novelty value of wanting to travel in a Hovercraft and I'd certainly try it once. It might have worth in connecting up with the Cruise Liners that come in and run as a day excursion to North Wales but I think most liners are in port just the one day and with respect are calling so people can visit Liverpool and its attractions.

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